| There are no secrets when it comes to winter | | | | Tip # 5 Don't follow too close. |
| driving. If there's ice on the road, it's dangerous. | | | | Traffic tends to bunch up on bad roads-the |
| The big truck flying past you at 55 mph when | | | | natural inclination is to follow other drivers. Stay |
| everyone else is crawling along at 15 or 20 mph | | | | away from four-wheelers. Often they are under |
| doesn't have the inside track on the winter | | | | the illusion that the roads are safer than they |
| roadways. You're liable to see him in the median a | | | | actually are. |
| few miles up the road. | | | | Tip # 6 Watch for warning signs. |
| If you're driving on ice, you won't know it until | | | | If there are four-wheelers spun out in the median |
| you need to stop. It doesn't matter if you're in a | | | | or shoulder, the roads are bad. If you start seeing |
| sedan, a 4-wheel drive or a big rig: brakes are the | | | | big trucks spun out, it's time to get off the |
| great equalizer. | | | | roadway. |
| Tip #1 Ice on your windshield means ice on the | | | | Tip # 7 There's no load worth your life. |
| road. | | | | If you are on dangerous roadways, your best bet |
| The ice doesn't have to be packed up on the | | | | is to find a safe spot to wait it out. Let your |
| roadway to be dangerous- a thin sheet of ice can | | | | logbook gain some hours. If you can't find a spot |
| develop quickly into a thick problem. | | | | in a truck stop, park on a ramp or anywhere out |
| Tip # 2 Keep an eye on the temperature. | | | | of the way. Try not to park on an incline. You're |
| Water freezes at 32 degrees. The roadways | | | | liable to get yourself stuck. |
| tend to be slightly warmer than the air temp, but | | | | Tip # 8 Carry supplies. |
| once you're down that low in temperature, you | | | | In the unfortunate event that you end up stuck, |
| need to be wary. | | | | spun out, wrecked, or just sitting in a backup, be |
| Tip # 3 Look for spray coming up from other | | | | sure you have necessities with you. Keep extra |
| vehicles. | | | | blankets, canned food (and a can opener if |
| If spray is coming off the tires, it's likely that the | | | | needed), and water. Be sure you keep your diesel |
| roads are wet (as opposed to ice covered), but | | | | tanks full so you won't run out. |
| keep in mind that a short stretch of road with ice | | | | Tip # 9 Treat your diesel. |
| on it can be just as dangerous as a ice-packed | | | | Diesel gels when it gets really cold. If your diesel |
| roadway. | | | | gels, your truck won't run. If you are facing |
| Tip # 4 Talk to people. | | | | winter weather conditions, you need to put an |
| Make sure your CB radio is on and talk to the | | | | anti-gel additive in your tanks (put it in BEFORE |
| drivers around you. If you are a new driver, try | | | | you fuel so it mixes). It's a good idea to stock up |
| to find a seasoned driver who isn't talking a lot of | | | | ahead of time and/or buy at a Wal-Mart rather |
| big talk. We're all a little nervous out there if we | | | | than expecting the truck stop to have it in stock. |
| really know what we're dealing with. You want to | | | | They tend to run out right when you need |
| find a seasoned driver with a healthy respect for | | | | it-every one else already bought theirs from |
| physics to help talk you through it. | | | | them. |